Unless they buy one of the existing teams (Toro Russki maybe) it's difficult to see how they would get an F1 entry. The FIA has not given any indication that it intends to open up F1 to new entrants, as it did when Caterham, Marussia and HRT joined (yes, I know they went by different names back then).

Unless they buy one of the existing teams (Toro Russki maybe) it's difficult to see how they would get an F1 entry. The FIA has not given any indication that it intends to open up F1 to new entrants, as it did when Caterham, Marussia and HRT joined (yes, I know they went by different names back then).

I would be very surprised if all of the current teams will still be around in 2015. I would not surprise me if one or more went bust, opening up a spot on the grid.

I am all in favour of one or more teams being added to the grid, given that they seem to have the backing and some infrastructure in place as well as a Russian GP and possibly two Russian drivers that could get on the grid and the money that that part of the world can bring it makes them a pretty good candidate.

F1 needs backmarker teams to blood young drivers. HRT may have been a joke but it was where Riccardio and Senns cut their teeth. Bianchi at Marussia is giving him a place to showcase his talents. McLaren have two very good prospects on their books but are unlikely to throw them in at the deep end.

There's a long list of teams 'intending' to join F1, which were then never being heard of again. Where's their money coming from anyway? Apart from a tiny sticker for a Russian sports website, their GP2 car is a rolling billboard for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics - not exactly a sponsor that's gonna stay for 2014 and beyond, is it?

There's a long list of teams 'intending' to join F1, which were then never being heard of again. Where's their money coming from anyway? Apart from a tiny sticker for a Russian sports website, their GP2 car is a rolling billboard for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics - not exactly a sponsor that's gonna stay for 2014 and beyond, is it?

I presume it will then be a billboard for the world cup in 2018 after that.

Let's say Carlos Slim wants his own F1 team. Money is no object. He wants it based in Mexico so does not want to buy a current team. How hard would it for him to achieve an entry on the grid? Compared to a GP2 who have been around the motor sport world for a fair amount of time and have came into some money which could suppourt a F1 entry. Let's say Horner wants to break out on his own with Arden.

Let's say Carlos Slim wants his own F1 team. Money is no object. He wants it based in Mexico so does not want to buy a current team. How hard would it for him to achieve an entry on the grid? Compared to a GP2 who have been around the motor sport world for a fair amount of time and have came into some money which could suppourt a F1 entry. Let's say Horner wants to break out on his own with Arden.

Formula 1 is effectively a closed shop. Other than by buying an existing team, a new team can only join if the FIA decides to open up the field to new entries. This last happened in 2009 ahead of the 2010 season, when the teams now known as Caterham and Marussia (and the short-lived HRT) were chosen from 15 bidders. It only happened that time because of Max Mosley's attempt to reduce costs - the teams originally entered the bidding process thinking that there would be a cap on spending, which (in theory) would have given them some chance to become competitive.

Formula 1 is effectively a closed shop. Other than by buying an existing team, a new team can only join if the FIA decides to open up the field to new entries. This last happened in 2009 ahead of the 2010 season, when the teams now known as Caterham and Marussia (and the short-lived HRT) were chosen from 15 bidders. It only happened that time because of Max Mosley's attempt to reduce costs - the teams originally entered the bidding process thinking that there would be a cap on spending, which (in theory) would have given them some chance to become competitive.

The FIA would open up the two spare grid slots today if someone came knocking with enough money. It's only closed while there is no serious interest.

The differences between GP2 teams and F1 backmarkers are massive. Even Marussia and Caterham are pushing $100m, running a few teams in feeder series is minuscule in comparison.

Formula 1 is effectively a closed shop. Other than by buying an existing team, a new team can only join if the FIA decides to open up the field to new entries. This last happened in 2009 ahead of the 2010 season, when the teams now known as Caterham and Marussia (and the short-lived HRT) were chosen from 15 bidders. It only happened that time because of Max Mosley's attempt to reduce costs - the teams originally entered the bidding process thinking that there would be a cap on spending, which (in theory) would have given them some chance to become competitive.

So if Audi wanted to be in F1 in 2015 and had a huge budget they would be turned away?

The FIA would open up the two spare grid slots today if someone came knocking with enough money. It's only closed while there is no serious interest.

I dunno, if they did that it would be bye-bye Caterham and Marussia, and possibly Sauber and Williams as well. Their existence is largely predicated on them being franchise holders who cannot be removed other than by purchase.

I'm sure if someone credible (or credibly rich - like a really really wealthy Russian oligarch) pops up at the FIA's door asking to field a brand new F1 team they'll at least open up the process for entries again, if not accept them outright.

I dunno, if they did that it would be bye-bye Caterham and Marussia, and possibly Sauber and Williams as well. Their existence is largely predicated on them being franchise holders who cannot be removed other than by purchase.

Bernie may want that, but the FIA aren't joined at the hip with him any more. The FIA get a substantial set fee from all the teams now, so the more teams in F1 the more money comes their way.

I'm sure if someone credible (or credibly rich - like a really really wealthy Russian oligarch) pops up at the FIA's door asking to field a brand new F1 team they'll at least open up the process for entries again, if not accept them outright.

It would be far simpler to buy one of the existing teams. Toro Rosso has been up for sale almost from the day that Dieter Mateschitz bought it and I'm pretty sure that Genii would love to offload Lotus - and that's without even thinking about Force India and Sauber. There is no prohibition on shifting a team's base to Vladivostok or Mexico City if that''s what the new owner wants to do and as Caterham, Lotus, Force India, Marussia and many other examples demonstrate, changing a team's name is easy enough.

So why go through the hassle of starting from scratch and having to go cap-in-hand to the FIA, the other teams and Bernie to get in on the Concorde Agreement when a simple cheque opens all the doors. After all, it was good enough for Renault when they bought Benetton, Honda when they bought BAR, BMW when they bought Sauber and Mercedes when they bought Brawn GP.